Schiff Should Have Kept His Head Down

There is an old story about a bird flying through a blizzard that finally falls to earth, covered in ice and unable to fly, convinced it was going to freeze to death. But as fate would have it, the bird landed in a fresh pile of bovine excrement which warmed its frail body. The bird's initial dismay turned to joy as it realized it would not freeze to death, and it opened its mouth and burst forth in song. A cat, hearing the noise, came and killed the bird. 

    In April of this year, Senator Adam Schiff (D-Cal.) raised a big stink about Trump allegedly failing to uphold the rule of law. Outraged Among other things, Schiff accused Trump of creating "a two-tier system of justice that grants favors and cuts corners for the famous or wealthy," and warned that "a democracy that fails to hold power to account ceases to be a democracy at all." Unfortunately for Schiff, he has been benefiting from that two-tier justice system (which existed before Trump and will exist long after Trump leaves office). According to a 2023 report, then Representative Schiff (D-Cal.) "claimed his primary residence is a 3,420 square foot home he owns in Maryland, according to a review of mortgage records." 

    At the same time, Schiff, a Democrat, has for years taken a homeowner’s tax exemption on a much smaller 650 square foot condo he owns in Burbank, California, also claiming that home as his primary residence for a reduction in his tax bill of $7,000. He did not take an exemption on his home in Maryland.

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    Deed records show Schiff, who was elected to Congress in 2000, designated the Maryland home as his primary residence in 2003. In 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012 Schiff refinanced his mortgage and again indicated it was his primary residence.

    Los Angeles County deed records for Schiff’s Burbank condo, purchased in 2009, were notarized in Maryland. On one page of the deed, the state: California and the county: Los Angeles are crossed out and Maryland and Montgomery County are written in. The records also list Schiff’s Maryland home as an address the records are being returned to.

    Marisol Samayoa, a spokesperson for Schiff’s campaign, asserted his primary residence was in California and said he had been open about it citing several news mentions and a mention in his book. 

This isn't just an issue of whether Schiff resides in California for purposes of holding political office, but also a matter of mortgage fraud: by listing his Maryland residence as his primary residence, Schiff was able to get a cheaper mortgage. Now, it has been revealed, "the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie Mae, has sent a criminal referral to the Justice Department requesting further investigation."